Marco Carducci named 2012 Canadian U-17 Male Player of the Year

The Canadian Soccer Association announced on Sunday that Vancouver Whitecaps FC Residency goalkeeper Marco Carducci has been named 2012 Canadian U-17 Male Player of the Year.

This is the fifth straight year that a Whitecaps FC player has won the award. Carducci follows current 'Caps first team midfielders Bryce Alderson, who won the award in 2011 and 2010, and Russell Teibert, who won the award in 2009 and 2008.

Fellow Whitecaps FC Residency players Marco Bustos and Kianz Froese were also nominated for the award. Bustos finished second in voting, while Froese landed in sixth spot. Voting was conducted by national team coaches (50%) and other Canadian coaches (50%).

This past year, Carducci played on Whitecaps FC's U-16 Residency squad, helping the team win the United States Soccer Development Academy (USSDA) West Conference, Northwest Division in the club's first year in the league.

The native of Calgary, Alberta, is a member of Canada's men's U-17 team, having taken part in three national projects in 2012. He saw action in eight international matches, including shutout victories over Costa Rica and Panama. He was Canada's Player of the Match in the 1-0 win over Panama at Estadio Rommel Fernandez on November 25, 2012.

"It was terrific for Marco to show such great work ethic during our national projects," said Sean Fleming, Canada's men's U-17 coach. "I hope this honour serves as an encouraging moment for him to continue to work hard and become a great player."

On the women's side, Whitecaps FC Girls Elite striker Summer Clarke finished third in voting for Canadian U-17 Female Player of the Year. This past year Clarke played on Canada's U-17 women's national team, scoring a goal against Colombia at the 2012 FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup.

Past Whitecaps FC players to win Canadian U-17 Female Player of the Year include Abigail Raymer in 2009, and Monica Lam-Feist in 2008 and 2007.